You can do it, and we can help!

Holt believes finances should never stop a child from having a loving family, and many resources are available to help prospective families offset the cost of adoption. However, it's not always clear where to start looking or what opportunities are best suited for your family. To help you consider all your options, we provide an outline of financial assistance, as well as a list of resources categorized by type.

Please note: The information provided on this page is for your information and consideration only and is not an endorsement of these organizations or companies.

Do you qualify for these?

Here are some easy ways that you can receive some financial assistance to help you reach your adoption fundraising goal! Click on the links to see if you are eligible.

Here are some easy ways that you can receive some financial assistance to help you reach your adoption fundraising goal! Click on the links to see if you are eligible.

Many families choose to consider loan options to cover some of the costs of adoption. Talk to your financial institution, lender or financial advisor to see if there is an option that works for you.

Many families choose to consider loan options to cover some of the costs of adoption. Talk to your financial institution, lender or financial advisor to see if there is an option that works for you.

Adoption Grants

Adoption grants are a great way to cover some of your family's adoption expenses. Before applying, it is important to check for grant eligibility criteria and application deadlines. Most grant organizations accept applications after the family has an approved homestudy and will administer funds directly to the family's service provider.

DIY Fundraising

Grants and low-interest loans are a great way to raise money for your adoption, but often, you can't rely on them alone. Luckily, countless resources exist to help families offset the cost of adoption through creative and community-based projects. In fact, many families are able to cover more of their costs by raising money independently. Here are just a few DIY resources:

Grants and low-interest loans are a great way to raise money for your adoption, but often, you can't rely on them alone. Luckily, countless resources exist to help families offset the cost of adoption through creative and community-based projects. In fact, many families are able to cover more of their costs by raising money independently. Here are just a few DIY resources:

Here are a couple stories of families who raised money for the full cost of their child's adoption in fun and creative ways! If you are hoping to adopt, but need help raising funds, we hope that their stories inspire you and give you the courage to get started!

Here are a couple stories of families who raised money for the full cost of their child's adoption in fun and creative ways! If you are hoping to adopt, but need help raising funds, we hope that their stories inspire you and give you the courage to get started!

Do's and Don'ts of DIY Fundraising

Do's

1. Involve your family, friends and community. They want to help, and they will be excited to be a part of your adoption journey.

2. Talk about why adoption is still critical in the country you are adopting from. Raising social awareness about the needs of children around the world will help friends and family understand why your adoption journey is so important.
(Just make sure your information is accurate and not based on old myths!)

3. Keep it simple. Sometimes the most effective fundraisers are the most straightforward. Host a garage sale and take donated items from your coworkers or church community. Or plan a service event and find friends and family who will sponsor your time. Bake sales, craft fairs and other DIY projects also have huge potential.

4. Ask for airline miles or other travel-related vouchers. Travel expenses to and from the country you are adopting from amounts to almost a third of all adoption-related costs, so this type of assistance will make a big dent in your overall expenses

5. Do exhaust all your other options first. Look into the adoption tax credit. See if you qualify for work-related employee benefits. Are you a military veteran? There may be funds already waiting for you! Also, apply for grants — LOTS of grants. Places like Show Hope, Brittany's Hope and Lifesong for Orphans have given thousands of dollars to Holt families.

6. Partner with reputable organizations, like Both Hands Foundation or YouCaring.com, who have programs to help you reach your fundraising goals through tried-and-true methods. Or consider using the services of adoption fundraising organizations like Resources4Adoption or Your Adoption Finance Coach to guide you through all the fundraising options available.

7. Look for ways to save money by reducing lifestyle, entertainment or other "extra" costs. It's amazing how fast savings add up! And, since adoption fees and expenses are spread out over 12-36 months, there is time for small amounts to add up quickly.

8. Wait to fundraise until you are homestudy-approved to avoid a potentially awkward situation. If, for some reason, your family is not approved to adopt, having to return fundraised dollars will make a tough situation more difficult.

9. Call us or your agency if you hit a roadblock. We have lots of tips and advice about fundraising, applying for grants and more.

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Don't

1. Do not use fundraising as your first method to cover adoption costs. Adoption is a lifelong commitment and should not be considered without serious discussions about how adding a child to your family will affect your finances long term.

2. Do not post identifying information about your child on the Internet. While the temptation to share photos of your beautiful new child with anyone and everyone is hard to resist, overseas officials, governments and child protection workers may be researching your family online, and sharing personal information about a child in their care or ours violates international safeguards for children waiting for adoption.

3. Do not be disrespectful of your child's birth family, or share personal details about why your child became eligible to be adopted. Children are relinquished or abandoned for many, many reasons, and it's important to be conscientious of their loss and that their story belongs to them. Be careful when sharing about your child's medical needs, too. As your child grows older, he or she may not want to share their health status with large groups.

4. Do not sell weapons, alcohol or other items that may be confusing or controversial to child welfare professionals or send the wrong message about adoption.

5. Do not ask family to give donations or money directly to your adoption agency on your behalf and receive a tax deduction. Non-profit agencies are not allowed to take tax-deductible gifts and apply those donated funds to only one specific family.

6. Do not over-share your story. Before you start fundraising, decide how much detail you will share about your adoption process, your agency experience and your child. And then stick to it. People will ask you lots of questions. They will be curious about your motivations, your child and more. Practice polite ways of explaining why you are keeping some details private. Remember, you are representing a very important cause. Adoption isn't easy. But presenting upbeat, positive information is the best way to inspire other families to adopt, too.

7. Do not get upset if some people in your life don't offer financial support. Adoption fundraising is a new phenomenon, and it can be confusing, even to some of your closest family and friends. And that's okay.

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Holt's Special Needs Adoption Fund

Since 1994, Holt has granted $1.6 million to about 700 families, with an average grant amount of $2,280.

Families on track to adopt a child with special needs through Holt — and who have a demonstrated financial need — may apply for a grant from the Special Needs Adoption Fund. If you think you may qualify, please inquire with Holt staff.

Other Adoption Resources

The Sparrow Fund Grants awarded for professional adoption support services, such as medical consultations and pre-adoption counsel, for both non-special needs and special needs adoptions. Visit their website for a broad list of adoption-related medical/counseling resources.